Transfer switch



May 3, 1927.

V W. SHERMAN TRANSFER SWITCH Filed April 20. 1926 Inventor VWS/M/"M 0/7 flttorney Patented May 3, 1927.

UNITED STA ES VERNON W. SHERMAN, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

TRANSFER SWITCH.

Application filed April 20, 1926. Serial No. 102 285.

This invention relates to improvements in switch constructions and particularly to a transfer switch for use in conjunction with radio sending and receiving apparatus for controlling the energi Aation of the respective apparatus and the connection therewith with the antenna.

An object of the invention resides in providing a switch particularly adapted for use in controlling radio transmitting and receiving sets which is provided with a plurality of movable switch blades mounted on a suitable base which carries stationary contact jaws mounted in i redetermined relation. with respect to the blades and for co operation with each blade so that upon the sin'iultaneous operation oi the several blades in one direction, the circuit controlled by the blades will be independently closed in successive relation.

A further object of the invention resides in providing switch construction including a base having a plurality of switch blades pivotally mounted thereon and. interconnected with one another, but insulated from each other so'that the'blades will be oper ated simultaneously for cooperation with stationary contacts mounted .on the base in a predetermined manner, so that the circuits controlled by the respective blades may be closed or energized in successive relation, in a predetermined manner.

The invention comprehends numerous other objects residing in the details of construction and arrangement of the parts of the switch mechanism, for producing a relatively simple switch mechanism for controlling a plurality of independent circuits which are more particularly pointed out in the following description in detail, and in the claim directed to a Pltlftllt-(l form of construction, it being understood, however, that various changes in the size, shape and relation of these parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as herein set forth.

In the drawings forming part of this application Figure 1 is a plan view of the improved switch construction.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view showing one of the stationary contacts with one of the switch blades cooperating therewith to close the control circuit.

1 indicates the base plate for the switch to which is secured a plurality of insulator supports 2 which are adapted to be secured toa wall frame or other suitablesupport and to fully insulate the switch mechanism mounted on the base plate 1 from the support therefor. I

A plurality of posts 3 are mounted in spaced relation adjacent one end of the base plate 1 and aligned transversely on the base plate as clearly shown in Fig. 1, for rotatably or pivotally supporting the main switch blade 4; on the central post and a pair of supplemental switch. blades 5 on the remain ing post 3. The main and supplemental switch blades lie in the same horizontal plane parallel to the base 1 and spaced there from as shown in Fig. 2. The central portion of the main switch blade {l is provided with an offset at 6 on the under sidie which is pivotally mounted a bar 7 of suit able insulating materfl having the ends pivotally connected to the s pple nental switch blades 5 at 8 so as mount the main and supplemental switch blades in spaced parallel relation as shown in Fig. 1, in all positions of operation thereof. i

The main switch blade 4 is of substantial length and formed at the end with a lateral extension 9 mounting the operating handle 10 projecting beyond the end of the base plate, so that it may be suitably grasped for manual operation. The supplemental switch blades Snare of unequal length as clearly illustrated in 1. i

A plurality of stz-itionary contact members are mounted ontlie base plate in spaced and predeteianined relation and are indicated at 11, 12, 13 and 1 1 respectively. Each of these contact members includes a lower and upper strip D'lGUlbEl 15 and 16 respectively, which at one end a re superpo upon one another and secured. by a suitable mounting screw 17 to the base plate 1, while the opposite ends of the contact members and 16 are oltset to provide spaced parallel resilient. gripping lingers 18 for receiving the switch blades to close the circuit therebetween, the switch blades fitting in the stationary contacts in the manner as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3.

A plurality of binding posts 19 are mounted in any suitable relation on the base plate 1 and have suitable wire connections with the respective stationary contacts and the post 3 mounting the switch blade so that the complete switch mechanism may be used for controlling; a plurality of independent circuits in any desired manner.

From the above description and with the parts shown in the position of Fig. 1, it will be seen that when the main and supplemental switch blades are in the central position on the base plate 1, that all of the circuits will be open and the switch blades will not engage any of the contacts 11, 12, 13 or 1%. lVhen the handle 10 is manually operated to move the switch blade to the dotted line position of Fig. 1, it can be readily ascertained from a comparison of the relation of the contacts 11, 12 and 13 that the supplemental switch blades 5 at the left hand side of the main switch blade 4; will first engage the contact 12 in the first movement of the switch blades toward the dotted line position, following which the other supplemental switch blade will engage the contact 11, and linally the main switch blade t will engage the contact 13 so as to successively close the circuit controlled by each of the switch blades independently of the others in order to obtain desired circuit closing functions.

This switch mechanism is especially designed for use in connection with radio transmitting and receiving apparatus and the main switch blade is adapted for controlling the antenna circuit to both the transmitter and receiving apparatus while the supplemental switch blades are adapted to open and close the circuits to the filament and plate circuits of a transmitting apparatus using evacuated three element tubes. In employing a switch construction of this charcter it will be seen that by having the circuits to the stationary contacts 11 and 12 closed and opened one after the other and by connecting the filament circuit to the switch blades 5 cooperating with contact 12, that the first circuit will be closed subse quent to and opened prior to the closing and opening of the filament circuit. which is necessary to the proper and etiicientoperation oi a transmitter of the type above mentioned.

When the main switch blade 4: is swung from the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1 to the left for engagement with the contact 14:, the antenna circuit to the receiving apparatus is closed, so that it may function in the usual manner.

This switch construction provides a flat compact switch mechanism making it highly desirable for wall mountings and one in which the best insulation is obtained between the various switch blades in order to prevent leakage of radio frequency current and to locate the parts of the switch in such a manner that the terminals may be reached with substantially short leads for connection with the transmitting apparatus. In addition, the construction is simple and a sturdy mechanical mechanism of high electrical etliciency and in which substantially perfect. insulation exists between the radio and audio frequency current carrying parts.

It is therefore believed that the switch construction as above set forth is of highly novel character in view of what is known or used in the art for performing similar operations and controlling actions.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is A switch, comprising a base plate, a plurality of posts mounted in transversely aligned relation adjacent one end of the base plate, a main switch blade pivotally mounted on one of said posts and having the opposite end projecting beyond the base the central portion of said main switch plate being formed with an offset portion, supplemental switch blades of unequal length pivotally mounted on the remaining posts in spaced parallel relation with said main switch blade, all of said switch blades lying in the same horizontal plane in spaced parallel relation to the base plate, an insulating member pivotally mounted on the under side ol the oliset portion of the main switch blade pivotally connected at its ends to the end portions of the supplemental switch blades, operating means on the ends of the main switch blades operable through said insulating members for moving all of said switch blades simultaneously, and resilient contacts mounted in spaced predetermined relation on said base for independent circuit closing cooperation with each of said switch blades. said contacts being positioned in such a manner that each blade will successively engage or disengage its respective contacts relative to the engagement and disengagement ol the remaining switch blades.

In testimony whereof I altix my signature.

VERNON W. SHERMAN. 

